Dressmaking: Why making your own clothes is back in fashion

Of all the crafts out there, dressmaking is perhaps the most intimidating of all. Not only does it involve a reasonably high level of skill, there's so much equipment to stock up on – from sewing machines to paper patterns to the right fabric.

However, despite these barriers – and the availability of cheap high street clothes – more and more of us are still opting to give it a go.

'In our world of overt consumerism, learning to make clothes with your own hands has become so freeing,' says Lisa Comfort, founder of the Sew Over It sewing cafes, which run regular dressmaking classes and courses. 'Our beginners' classes are definitely our most popular; we run three or four intro to dressmaking classes per month and they are always really busy and bustling.'

What do people get out of dressmaking?

Paige Calvert, 25, a fashion blogger from London, was taught to sew my her grandma as a child, but really got in to it when she started working in a fashion boutique. She loves being able to have unusual pieces in her wardrobe, as well as the creative outlet it offers her.

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'Making my own clothes and accessories means I have original one-off pieces that no one else has," she tells us. 'Translating an idea into a tangible product keeps me excited about sewing.'

Her biggest sewing achievements include a prom dress and five bridesmaids dresses' for her mum's wedding. 'But everything I make gives me a sense of pride every time,' she says.

Other women have turned to dressmaking over environmental concerns about the 'fast fashion' industry.

Hannah Sullivan, 27, co-founder of The New Craft House set herself the challenge of creating a completely handmade wardrobe. 'I've never been someone who spends loads of money on throwaway fashion, but the more I found out about the garment industry, the more I wanted to avoid contributing to it,' she explains. 'I'd started off quilting, and was getting better at sewing, so gradually started to build up my wardrobe. It's such a great feeling to look at your wardrobe and see that most of it has been handmade.'

She recently completed a whole duffle coat by hand, and has even learnt to sew her own bras.

Hannah says that sewing has never been a cost-saving exercise for her. 'I'm making more clothes than I ever bought,' she admits. 'But I've found that what I do make is much better quality. I'd never have been able to afford a silk shirt, but now I have a few hanging in my wardrobe alongside loads of party dresses in lovely fabrics.

'I also think that because I've invested my time in making something, I take much better care of it and will keep it for longer.' Being able to make sure your clothes fit exactly and flatter your figure is another great bonus.

Finding the time to make your own

Both Paige and Hannah agree that the hardest part of dressmaking is finding time to fit it in, and unfortunately there are no easy solutions for this.

'Sometimes I do a sneaky bit of sewing during work breaks, but I find myself doing most of it at home, late into the night,' says Hannah.

Paige adds: 'Getting my sewing machine out isn't that easy with a job and blog to manage as well. I often get an idea and get so excited that I plan out days to make it. If you love something enough, you will always find the time to indulge in it.'

How to get started with dressmaking

Hannah's top tip for budding dressmakers is to take an in-person class first, rather than trying to teach yourself from scratch using books and websites:

'It'll help you feel confident about starting out and it's the perfect opportunity to ask a load of questions,' she says.

But Lisa urges sewers to not feel scared: 'It's important to get a good grasp of the basics, but once you've learned to use a sewing machine and work from a pattern, you can do anything! Blogs and YouTube are great resources, and the #sewcialists tag on Instagram has a whole bunch of people ready to offer advice and support.'

It's also a good idea to tackle projects you know you will really love and wear constantly: Hannah wears simple jersey tops most days, so she always whips up a few at a time.

And with contemporary, stylish dressmaking brands such as Sew Over It, plus the growth of trend-orientated sewing blogs and YouTube channels, it's difficult to ever be stuck for inspiration.

We'll be dusting off our sewing machines this evening.

Want to get started? Check out our sewing channel for video tutorials from Lisa Comfort and sewing patterns.

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